Communication system, serving gateway, communication method therefor, and base station

ABSTRACT

A communication system, a serving gateway, a communication method, and a base station are provided that make it possible to flexibly increase/decrease a U-plane processing function of a communication apparatus. A communication system in which a logical path is configured in a network to perform communication, comprises: second gateways ( 740 - 1, 740 - 2 ), which are deployed for a plurality of first gateways ( 720 - 1, 720 - 2 ), respectively; a transport network ( 760 ), which the logical paths configured between a base station ( 770 ) and the second gateways pass through; and a control apparatus ( 710 ) that controls packet forwarding in the transport network, wherein the control apparatus controls the transport network so that a logical path to which a packet belongs is identified and the packet will be forwarded to the second gateway corresponding to the identified logical path.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a communication system in which datacommunication is performed between communication apparatuses through alogical path and, more particularly, to a serving gateway, acommunication method, and a base station in the communication system.

BACKGROUND ART

In existing wireless communication systems, a wireless terminal connectsto a radio base station and thereby can access the Internet via a corenetwork. At that time, the wireless terminal performs packetcommunication through a communication path (bearer) established betweenthe radio base station it has connected to and a gateway apparatusprovided in the core network. In order to provide the bearer, the radiobase station and the gateway apparatus construct a tunnel byencapsulating packets. The tunnel that passes data packets is identifiedby tunnel identification information, which is set in the outer headerof the packet.

For example, in the EPS (Evolved Packet System) using E-UTRAN (EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) described in NPL 1, awireless terminal UE (User Equipment) can perform packet communicationthrough an EPS bearer created between the UE and a P-GW (Packet DataNetwork Gateway). In this EPS bearer, logical paths for passing datapackets that are terminated between a radio base station (eNodeB) and aS-GW (Serving GW) and between the S-GW and the P-GW, respectively, arecalled GTP-U (GRPS Tunneling Protocol for User plane) tunnel which isidentified by a TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifier) in an outer header ofa packet.

In a communication system as described above, an increase in mobiletraffic can be dealt with by adding a S-GW and a P-GW as necessary.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature [NPL 1]

3GPP TR 23.401 V12.0.0 “General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enhancementsfor Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)access”, [retrieved on May 20, 2013] Internet<http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/23401.htm>

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, since always-on IP connectivity is now required in LTE (LongTerm Evolution), a connection with P-GW is automatically establishedwhen a wireless terminal UE accesses a mobile network. That is, a beareris constructed between the wireless terminal UE and the P-GW at themoment the wireless terminal UE accesses the mobile network, and it willbe maintained. Consequently, U-plane processing for forwarding trafficincreases as user traffic grows, but, on the other hand, the share ofC-plane processing for managing bearers becomes small relatively.

As described above, an increase in mobile traffic is dealt with byadding a GW (gateway apparatus). Accordingly, in case of a single-unitGW (gateway apparatus) with C-plane processing and U-plane processingintegrated therein, the problem arises that the addition of GWs to dealwith the increased loads of U-plane processing may cause excessiveC-plane processing capacity, resulting in the declined processingefficiency of the GWs as a whole.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide acommunication system, a communication apparatus, a control method, and acontrol apparatus that make it possible to flexibly increase/decrease aU-plane processing function of a communication apparatus.

Solution to Problem

A communication system according to the present invention is acommunication system in which a logical path is configured in a networkto perform communication, comprising: second gateways, which aredeployed for a plurality of first gateways, respectively; a transportnetwork, which the logical paths configured between a base station andthe second gateways pass through; and a control apparatus that controlspacket forwarding in the transport network, characterized in that thecontrol apparatus controls the transport network so that a logical pathto which a packet belongs is identified and the packet will be forwardedto the second gateway corresponding to the identified logical path.

A serving gateway according to the present invention is a servinggateway in a communication system including a plurality of PDN (PacketData Network) gateways, comprising: first means capable of performingprocessing for terminating a first logical path with a PDN gatewayassociated with the serving gateway; second means capable of performingprocessing for terminating a second logical path with a base station;and third means capable of exchanging information related to thetermination processing with at least one of the first and second meansin accordance with an operation rule, which is notified from a controlapparatus in response to a request from a control plane for the firstand second logical paths.

A communication method according to the present invention is acommunication method for a serving gateway in a communication systemincluding a plurality of PDN (Packet Data Network) gateways,characterized by comprising: by a first logical path termination module,performing processing for terminating a first logical path with a PDNgateway associated with the serving gateway; by a second logical pathtermination module, performing processing for terminating a secondlogical path with a base station; and exchanging information related tothe termination processing with at least one of the first and secondlogical path termination modules in accordance with an operation rule,which is notified from a control apparatus in response to a request froma control plane for the first and second logical paths.

A base station according to the present invention is a base station in acommunication system including a plurality of PDN (Packet Data Network)gateways, comprising: a base station unit; and a serving gateway unit,characterized in that the serving gateway unit includes: means capableof translating a destination address of a packet belonging to a logicalpath for a communication with a predetermined communication network, toan address of a PDN gateway that corresponds to the predeterminedcommunication network.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to flexiblyincrease/decrease a U-plane processing function of a communicationapparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication systemaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of acommunication apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a controlapparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing operations in the communicationsystem according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication systemaccording to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of acommunication apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a controlapparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing operations in the communicationsystem according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a first example of the functionalconfiguration of the communication apparatus according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a second example of the functionalconfiguration of the communication apparatus according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the communicationapparatus implemented by using software, according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a system architecture diagram showing a functionalarchitecture of a communication system according to a first example ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic network diagram for describing the OpenFlowtechnology employed in the first example.

FIG. 14 is a format diagram schematically showing the structure of anentry stored in a flow table in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a system architecture showing an example of the functionalarchitecture of the communication system according to the first example.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordefault bearer construction at P-GW in the communication system shown inFIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordefault bearer release at P-GW in the communication system shown in FIG.15.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordedicated bearer construction at P-GW in the communication system shownin FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordedicated bearer release at P-GW in the communication system shown inFIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a system architecture diagram showing a functionalarchitecture of a communication system according to a second example ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 is a system architecture showing an example of the functionalarchitecture of the communication system according to the secondexample.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordefault bearer construction at S-GW in the communication system shown inFIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordefault bearer release at S-GW in the communication system shown in FIG.21.

FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordedicated bearer construction at S-GW in the communication system shownin FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordedicated bearer release at S-GW in the communication system shown inFIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for S1connection release at S-GW in the communication system shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure forUE-triggered service request at S-GW in the communication system shownin FIG. 21.

FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure forNW-triggered service request at S-GW in the communication system shownin FIG. 21.

FIG. 29 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication systemaccording to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a schematic architecture diagram showing an example of acommunication system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 31 is an architecture diagram showing an example of a transportnetwork in the communication system shown in FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of aU-plane S-GW in the communication system shown in FIG. 30.

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure fordefault bearer construction at S-GW in the communication system shown inFIG. 30.

FIG. 34 is a schematic architecture diagram showing another example ofthe communication system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Systems according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention havean architecture in which a communication apparatus having C-planeprocessing function and a communication apparatus having U-planeprocessing function are separated. A control apparatus dynamicallycontrols the U-plane processing function in response to a request fromthe communication apparatus having C-plane processing function.Accordingly, the present invention allows flexible increase/decrease inU-plane processing function. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments andexamples of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to drawings.

1. First Exemplary Embodiment 1.1) System Architecture

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system architecture according to a firstexemplary embodiment. A communication system according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane that performs data traffic processing, acontrol apparatus 20, a communication apparatus 30 for C-plane, and acommunication apparatus 40 that communicates with the communicationapparatus 10. It is assumed that a logical path 50 is created betweenthe communication apparatus 10 for U-plane and the communicationapparatus 40.

The communication system may include a plurality of communicationapparatuses for U-plane 10. For example, the communication system poolsa plurality of communication apparatuses 10 having U-plane processingfunction. The control apparatus 20 may select a communication apparatus10 to be caused to operate as U-plane from the pool of communicationapparatuses 10 (communication equipment resources comprising theplurality of communication apparatuses 10) in response to a request fromthe communication apparatus 30 for C-plane.

For example, the control apparatus 20 may select a communicationapparatus 10 to be caused to operate as U-plane, depending on thecommunication state of the communication system. As an example, when theload on the communication system is higher than a predeterminedthreshold, the control apparatus 20 selects not a communicationapparatus 10 that has already been operating as a U-plane function but anew communication apparatus 10 and causes it to operate as U-plane.Moreover, for example, when the load on the communication system islower than a predetermined threshold, the control apparatus 20 selects acommunication apparatus 10 that has already been operating as a U-planefunction.

It is also possible that the control apparatus 20 selects acommunication apparatus 10 to be caused to operate as U-plane, forexample, depending on the type of the logical path 50. For example, thecontrol apparatus 20 refers to a port number or the like included in theheader of a packet to identify a service associated with the packet and,based on the type of this service, identifies the type of the logicalpath 50. For example, the control apparatus 20 selects a differentcommunication apparatus 10 for each type of the logical path 50.

It is also possible that the control apparatus 20 selects acommunication apparatus 10 to be caused to operate as U-plane, forexample, depending on the type of a data network (Internet, IMS (IPMultimedia Subsystem), or the like) a terminal accesses. For example,the control apparatus 20 selects a different communication apparatus 10for each data network. Note that the control apparatus 20 may alsoselect a communication apparatus 10 to be caused to operate as U-plane,for example, depending on a PDN (Packet Data Network) gateway.

It is also possible that the control apparatus 20 selects acommunication apparatus 10 to be caused to operate as U-plane, forexample, depending on the location of a base station a terminal attachesto.

The communication system may pool communication apparatuses 10 havingU-plane processing function. Moreover, the communication system may poola plurality of general-purpose communication apparatuses 10 andconstruct a U-plane processing function in each communication apparatus10 by using software such as VM (Virtual Machine). For example, theoperator of the communication system constructs software having U-planeprocessing function in the communication apparatuses 10. Moreover, thecontrol apparatus 20 may construct software having U-plane processingfunction in the communication apparatuses 10 in accordance with aninstruction from the operator.

The control apparatus 20 controls the U-plane processing function of thecommunication apparatus(s) 10 in response to a request from thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane.

The communication apparatus 30 for C-plane has a function of bearermanagement, such as configuration, modification, and release of thelogical path 50 (e.g., bearer) at the communication apparatus 10 forU-plane, and requests the control apparatus 20 to configure a U-planelogical path 50.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane. A control interface 111 receives a command (anoperation rule) from the control apparatus 20 in accordance with apredetermined control protocol. For the control protocol, for example,OpenFlow, I2RS (Interface to the Routing System), ForCES (Forwarding andControl Element Separation), or the like can be used. However, theabove-mentioned protocols are recited as examples, and other controlprotocols can also be used.

A control section 110 operates as a U-plane processing function inaccordance with a command from the control apparatus 20. For example,the control section 110 has a function of encapsulating anddecapsulating a packet to be sent to or received from the communicationapparatus 40. In other words, the control section 110 has a function ofterminating the logical path 50 established with the communicationapparatus 40. For example, the control section 110 receives a commandincluding identification information for identifying the logical path 50from the control apparatus 20 via the control interface 111. The controlsection 110, in accordance with such a command, encapsulates a packetbased on the received identification information. Moreover, the controlsection 110, in accordance with such a command, decapsulates a packetcorresponding to the identification information. A case is describedwith FIG. 2 in which the control section 110 terminates the logical path50. If the logical path 50 is constructed in multiple stages in acascaded manner, not a combination of decapsulating processing andencapsulating processing but a modification to information included inthe outer header may be performed. Examples of the information to bemodified include, but are not limited to, information for identifying alogical path included in the outer header, such as source anddestination IP addresses and a Tunneling Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

The control section 110 performs processing for sending and receiving anecho message for checking the aliveness of the communication apparatus40, management of the sequence numbers of packets (i.e., the logicalpath 50), and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the control apparatus20. The control apparatus 20 includes communication sections 201 and 202and a control section 206.

The communication section 202 receives a request to configure a U-planelogical path 50 from the communication apparatus 30 for C-plane.

The control section 206 selects a communication apparatus 10 to becaused to execute the U-plane processing function in response to theconfigure request received from the communication apparatus 30 forC-plane. The control section 206 sends a command including theidentification information of the logical path 50 to be constructed inresponse to the request from the communication apparatus 30 for C-planeto the selected communication apparatus 10 via the communication section201. For example, the control section 206 instructs the selectedcommunication apparatus 10 to encapsulate a packet based on the receivedidentification information and to decapsulate a packet corresponding tothe identification information. Alternatively, if the logical path 50 isconstructed in multiple stages in a cascaded manner, it is also possibleto instruct to perform processing for modifying information included inthe outer header.

1.2) Operations

FIG. 4 shows an example of operations in the first exemplary embodiment.

The communication apparatus 30 for C-plane receives a create sessionrequest from another apparatus (Operation S1). When receiving the createsession request, the communication apparatus 30 for C-plane sends asetup request for U-plane logical path 50 to the control apparatus 20(Operation S2).

The control apparatus 20, when receiving the setup request for logicalpath 50, performs selection of a communication apparatus 10 for U-planeand assignment of identification information (e.g., a TEID (TunnelEndpoint ID)) to the logical path 50 to be set up by the selectedcommunication apparatus 10 (Operation S3). The control apparatus 20returns a U-plane resource (session) assignment response message to thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane (Operation S4). The communicationapparatus 30 for C-plane having received the U-plane resource (session)assignment response message sends a U-plane resource (session) setuprequest message to the control apparatus 20 (Operation S5).

The control apparatus 20, when receiving the U-plane resource (session)setup request message, gives a command to encapsulate and decapsulatepackets based on the identification information (Operation S6). Thecontrol apparatus 20 returns a U-plane resource (session) setup responsemessage to the communication apparatus 30 for C-plane (Operation S7).The communication apparatus 30 for C-plane having received the U-planeresource (session) setup response message sends a create sessionresponse message to the other apparatus that has sent the create sessionrequest (Operation S8).

1.3) Effects

In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anarchitecture is provided in which a communication apparatus havingC-plane processing function and a communication apparatus having U-planeprocessing function are separated. A control apparatus dynamicallycontrols the U-plane processing function in response to a request fromthe communication apparatus having C-plane processing function.Accordingly, according to the present exemplary embodiment, it ispossible to flexibly increase/decrease the U-plane processing function.

2. Second Exemplary Embodiment

In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thetechniques mentioned in the above-described first exemplary embodimentcan be applied. In the first exemplary embodiment, the control apparatus20 controls the communication apparatus 10 by using a control protocolsuch as OpenFlow, I2RS, or ForCES and causes the communication apparatus10 to execute the U-plane processing function.

On the other hand, according to the second exemplary embodiment, in acommunication apparatus 10, the U-plane processing function is dividedinto a function to be executed in accordance with control by a controlapparatus 20 and a function to be executed by the communicationapparatus 10 itself. The communication apparatus 10 divides the U-planeprocessing function, whereby the control apparatus 20 can cause thecommunication apparatus 10 to execute the U-plane processing functionmore easily.

The communication apparatus 10 includes, in a separated manner, afunction capable of performing logical path (e.g., bearer) terminationprocessing, and a packet forward function that receives and sendspackets via logical ports. The control apparatus 20 controls the packetforward function of the communication apparatus 10 so that a packet willbe sent or received through an adequate logical path. Since management,such as configuration and deletion, of logical paths is performed by thelogical path management function in the communication apparatus 10, thecontrol apparatus 20 can increase/decrease the U-plane processingfunction more easily.

2.1) System Architecture

Referring to FIG. 5, a communication system according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane that performs data traffic processing, thecontrol apparatus 20, a communication apparatus 30 for C-plane, and acommunication apparatus 40 that communicates with the communicationapparatus 10, and it is assumed that a logical path 50 is createdbetween the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane and the communicationapparatus 40.

The communication apparatus 10 for U-plane includes a logical pathmodule 11 that performs management, such as creation and deletion, ofthe logical path 50 and a packet forward section 12 that performs packetforwarding, which are provided in a functionally separated manner, andone logical path module 11 can be constructed for one logical port F_(L)of the packet forward section 12. The logical path module 11 can performprocessing for terminating the logical path 50. The number of logicalports F_(L) of the packet forward section 12 is determined, for example,depending on an increase or a decrease in traffic. Moreover, forexample, the number of logical ports F_(L) is determined depending onthe throughput of the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane. The packetforward section 12 has a function of performing processing on datapackets in accordance with control information from the controlapparatus 20, which will be described later. The packet forward section12 can exchange information (e.g., the identification information of abearer, or the like) related to the logical path termination processingto be performed by the logical path module 11, in accordance with anoperation rule notified from the control apparatus 20. The logical pathmodule 11 has a function of creating the logical path 50 with theother-end communication apparatus 40 and changing or releasing thelogical path 50, as well as exchanging an echo message Echo to detectthe state of the other-end communication apparatus 40.

The control apparatus 20 manages port information and packet forwardrules of the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane and, in accordancewith a command for data traffic forwarding received from thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane, sends control information forpacket forwarding to the packet forward section 12 of the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane.

The communication apparatus 30 for C-plane has a function of bearermanagement, such as setup, modification, and release of a bearer at thecommunication apparatus 10 for U-plane, and gives a command to thecontrol apparatus 20 about traffic forwarding at the packet forwardsection 12.

Note that another control apparatus may be used to implement a functionof managing (such as creating and deleting) the logical path module 11,a function of associating the logical path module 11 with the logicalport P_(L) of the packet forward section12, and the like.

<Communication Apparatus for U-Plane>

Referring to FIG. 6, the logical path module 11 includes a logical pathmanagement section 101 that manages the communication apparatus 40 onthe other end of the logical path 50, and an encapsulation functionsection 102 and a decapsulation function section 103 for the logicalpath.

The logical path management section 101 performs processing forsending/receiving an echo message for checking the aliveness of thecommunication apparatus 40, packet sequence number management, and thelike. The encapsulation function section 102 performs encapsulationbased on a data packet input from the packet forward section 12 andmetadata including identification information for identifying thelogical path 50 and sends the resultant as a packet belonging to thelogical path 50. Note that it is also possible to mark the header of apacket with QoS (Quality of Service) information at the time ofencapsulation. The decapsulation function section 103, when receiving apacket belonging to the logical path 50, decapsulates the receivedpacket and then outputs the decapsulated data packet to the packetforward section 12 and also outputs the identification information ofthe logical path 50 included in the outer header to the packet forwardsection 12 as metadata.

The packet forward section 12 performs packet forwarding in accordancewith a packet forward rule from the control apparatus 20. The packetforward section 12, in accordance with the packet forward rule, canexchange information related to the logical path termination processingwith the logical path module 11 concurrently with packet forwarding.Moreover, the packet forward section 12 manages the logical path module11 as a logical port P_(L) similarly to a physical port. That is, when apacket is received from the logical port P_(L), the identificationinformation of the logical path 50 to which this packet belongs isreceived as metadata along with the decapsulated data packet. Note thatif a single logical path module can communicate with a plurality ofother-end communication apparatuses as will be described later, the IPaddress of an other-end communication apparatus is also receivedtogether via the logical port P_(L).

Reversely, when forwarding a packet to the logical port F_(L), thepacket forward section 12 transfers logical path identificationinformation as metadata, along with the data packet, to the logical pathmodule 11. If a single logical path module can communicate with aplurality of other-end communication apparatuses, the IP address of another-end communication apparatus is also transfered via the logicalport P_(L).

<Control Apparatus>

Referring to FIG. 7, the control apparatus 20 is interposed between thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane and the communication apparatus10 for U-plane and sends a command for data traffic forwarding from thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane to the packet forward section 12of the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane as a packet forward rule.

The control apparatus 20 includes a communication section 201 forcommunicating with the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane and acommunication section 202 for communicating with the communicationapparatus 30 for C-plane and further includes a route and actioncalculation section 203, a packet forward management section 204, apacket forward rule management section 205, and a control section 206.

The route and action calculation section 203 generates a packet forwardrule based on information from the communication apparatus 30 forC-plane and sends it to the communication apparatus 10 for U-plane viathe communication section 201. The packet forward rule for controllingthe packet forward section 12 of the communication apparatus 10 forU-plane will be described later.

The packet forward management section 204 manages the capabilities andport information of the packet forward section 12 of the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane. Information on the logical port P_(L)associated with the logical path 50 includes an IP address assigned tothe logical path module 11. Note that in case where a single logicalpath module can communicate with a plurality of other-end communicationapparatuses, the IP address of the other-end communication apparatus 40is also included.

The packet forward rule management section 205 manages packet forwardrules set in the packet forward section 12 of the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane and also manages subscriber-distinguishableinformation and bearer identification information.

Note that the control apparatus 20 may be provided with a function ofmanaging communication apparatuses for U-plane. For example, it ispossible to also perform management such as selection of a communicationapparatus for U-plane, assignment or release of logical pathidentification information in units of the other-end communicationapparatus for the logical path module in a communication apparatus forU-plane, management of bearer identification information, and the likeand, together with this, management such as assignment and release ofthe IP address of UE may be also performed if the communicationapparatus 10 is a P-GW. However, this function of managing communicationapparatuses for U-plane may be provided to another apparatus such as thecommunication apparatus 30 for C-plane.

2.2) Operations

Hereinafter, processing for forwarding each packet belonging to a packetflow will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, the logical path module 11 sends an echo requestmessage to the other-end communication apparatus 40 and, depending onwhether or not an echo response message responding to it is received,checks the aliveness of the other-end communication apparatus 40.Moreover, when an echo request message is received from the other-endcommunication apparatus 40, the logical path module 11 sends an echoresponse message responding to it.

The packet forward section 12, when receiving a data packet, checks itsheader information against a packet forward rule and, when determiningthat it is of a packet flow to be forwarded to the communicationapparatus 40, forwards the packet to the logical path module 11 via thelogical port P_(L) with which the logical path 50 is set up. In thisevent, metadata including identification information for identifying thelogical path 50 is transfered to the logical path module 11 along withthe data packet. If a plurality of other-end communication apparatusesexist, the metadata also includes the IP address of an other-endcommunication apparatus to which the packet is to be sent.

The logical path module 11 performs encapsulation of the data packetbased on the sequence number of the data packet and the metadata inputfrom the packet forward section 12 and sends the resultant as a packetbelonging to the logical path 50. Thereafter, in a similar manner, adata packet of the same flow is encapsulated and then sent each time itis received. Moreover, a sequence number is also added if a sequencenumber is used in the logical path.

The logical path module 11, when identifying the logical path 50 basedon header information in an input data packet, decapsulates the datapacket and outputs the decapsulated data packet to the packet forwardsection 12 and also outputs metadata including the identificationinformation of the logical path 50 to the packet forward section 12. Ifthere are a plurality of other-end communication apparatuses associatedwith the logical path module 11, the metadata also includes the IPaddress of an other-end communication apparatus from which the datapacket is received. The packet forward section 12 checks the logicalpath identification information (and the IP address of the other-endcommunication apparatus) in the metadata against a packet forward rule,thereby identifying a port to which this data packet is to be forwarded,and then forwarding the data packet.

2.3) Effects

As described above, according to the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the control apparatus 20 registers a packet forwardrule with the packet forward section 12 of the communication apparatus10 for U-plane in accordance with a command for traffic forwarding fromthe communication apparatus 30 for C-plane, whereby the packet forwardsection 12 forwards a packet through the logical path associated withthe other-end communication apparatus. Moreover, in the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane, the logical path module 11 executes thefunctions for echo processing for checking the state of the other-endcommunication apparatus, sequence number management, and the like,whereby it is possible to facilitate the management of a logical path inwhich a cut-and-paste operation frequently occurs, and it is alsopossible to reduce the processing load on a control system composed ofthe communication apparatus 30 for C-plane and the control apparatus 20.

2.4) Configuration Examples of Communication Apparatus for U-Plane

Hereinafter, specific examples of the configuration of theabove-described communication apparatus 10 for U-plane will bedescribed.

In an example shown in FIG. 9, the packet forward section 12 configuresor releases a logical port P_(L) depending on an increase or a decreasein traffic, and a logical path module 11 is constructed for each logicalport P_(L). One logical path 50 is set up for each logical path module11. In this case, since each logical path module 11 is associated withan other-end communication apparatus 40 on a one-to-one basis, it issufficient for the logical path module 11 and the packet forward section12 to transfer metadata that includes identification information foridentifying the relevant logical path 50.

In an example shown in FIG. 10 as well, the packet forward section 12configures or releases a logical port P_(L) depending on an increase ora decrease in traffic, and a logical path module 11 is constructed foreach logical port P_(L). However, the difference is that a plurality oflogical paths 50 are set up for each logical path module 11. In thiscase, since each logical path module 11 is associated with a pluralityof other-end communication apparatuses, it is sufficient for the logicalpath module 11 and the packet forward section 12 to transfer metadatathat includes the identification information of a logical path 50 andthe IP address of each other-end communication apparatus.

In an example shown in FIG. 11, respective functions corresponding tothe logical path module 11 and the packet forward section 12 areexecuted by software (a data processing section 13 in FIG. 11). Thesoftware includes logical path module functions 11 a and a packetforward function 12a, and the logical path module function 11 acorresponds to the logical path module 11 and the packet forwardfunction 12a corresponds to the packet forward section 12. The softwarecan add a required logical path module function 11 a, for example,depending on user traffic. Note that if a single logical path modulefunction 11 a communicates with a plurality of other-end communicationapparatuses, the functional configuration shown in FIG. 10 can also beimplemented by using programs executed on the data processing section13.

Not only is a logical path module 11 associated with a logical portP_(L) created or deleted depending on an increase or a decrease intraffic as described above, but it is also possible that the states(such as loads and the numbers of logical ports) of communicationapparatuses for U-plane 10 are monitored and a communication apparatus10 for U-plane to terminate a new logical path is selected.

3. First Example 3.1) System Architecture

Referring to FIG. 12, in a communication system according to a firstexample of the present invention, communication apparatuses for U-planeand for C-plane according to the first or second exemplary embodimentare applied to P-GWs for U-plane and for C-plane. In the presentexample, a GTP-U tunnel 350 is illustrated as the above-describedlogical path 50, and further, a U-plane P-GW 300, a controller 320, aC-plane P-GW 330, and a S-GW 340 are illustrated as the communicationapparatus 10 for U-plane, control apparatus 20, communication apparatus30 for C-plane, and other-end communication apparatus 40, respectively.Moreover, a radio base station eNB 360 is connected to the U-plane P-GW300 through the GTP-U tunnel via the S-GW 340 that is selected by amobility management entity (MME) 370.

The U-plane P-GW 300 is provided with a GTP-U tunnel module 311 and aswitch 312, which correspond to the above-described logical path module11 and packet forward section 12, respectively. The controller 320 has afunction of identifying a packet flow, and registers a packet forwardrule with the switch 312, thereby controlling the switch 312 so that theswitch 312 will add metadata to a packet that matches the packet forwardrule and will forward the packet via the GTP-U tunnel module 311, asdescribed above. The GTP-U tunnel module 311 in the U-plane P-GW 300creates the GTP-U tunnel 350 with the S-GW 340, which is an other-endcommunication apparatus, and performs encapsulation/decapsulation, alivemonitoring on the other-end communication apparatus by using an echomessage, sequence number management, and the like, as described above.

As described above, the switch 312 performs an action that matches apacket forward rule from the controller 320, thereby performing theabove-described addition of metadata and packet forwarding. Such anetwork architecture system of centralized control type in which thecontroller 320 controls the switch 312 in a centralized manner can beimplemented by using, for example, OpenFlow, I2RS (Interface to theRouting System), ForCES (Forwarding and Control Element Separation), orthe like. Hereinafter, an example using OpenFlow will be described as anexample of implementation of the controller 320 and switch 312.

3.2) OpenFlow

In OpenFlow, a communication is recognized as an end-to-end flow, androuting control, failure recovery, load balancing, and the like areperformed in units of flow. Here, a flow is, for example, a group ofcommunication packets in series that have a predetermined attribute.Hereinafter, a brief description will be given of OpenFlow, using anetwork shown in FIG. 13 as an example.

Referring to FIG. 13, OpenFlow Switches 391 are network switchesemploying the OpenFlow technology, and an OpenFlow Controller 390 is aninformation processing apparatus that controls the OpenFlow Switches391.

A Secure Channel 393 is configured between each OpenFlow Switch 391 andthe OpenFlow Controller 390, and each OpenFlow Switch 391 communicateswith the OpenFlow Controller 391 through the Secure Channel 393. TheOpenFlow Controller 390 makes settings on a Flow Table 392 of eachOpenFlow Switch 391 through the Secure Channel 393. Note that the SecureChannels 393 are communication paths between the individual Switches 391and the Controller 390 and are provided with measures for preventingeavesdropping, manipulation, and the like of communication.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the structure of each entry (flow entry) inthe Flow Table 392. A flow entry includes Match Fields, which prescribematching rules to be matched against information (e.g., destination IPaddress, VLAN ID, and the like) included in a header of a packetreceived by the Switch, a field (Counters) indicating statisticalinformation on each packet flow, and an action field (Action), whichprescribes packet processing methods that match the matching rules.

Each OpenFlow Switch 391, when receiving a packet, refers to the FlowTable 392. The OpenFlow Switch 391 searches for a flow entry thatmatches header information in the received packet. If an entry thatmatches the header information in the received packet is retrieved, theOpenFlow Switch 391 processes the received packet in accordance with aprocessing method prescribed in the action field of the retrieved entry.The processing method is, for example, processing for “forwarding thereceived packet from a predetermined logical port”, “discarding thereceived packet”, or “modifying part of a header of the received packetinto metadata and forwarding the received packet to a predeterminedlogical port”.

On the other hand, if no entry is found that matches the headerinformation in the received packet, it is possible that, for example,the OpenFlow Switch 391 transfers the received packet to the OpenFlowController 390 through the Secure Channel 392 and requests theController 390 to set a flow entry that prescribes a method forprocessing the received packet.

The OpenFlow Controller 390 determines a method for processing thereceived packet and registers a flow entry including the determinedprocessing method in the Flow Table 392. Thereafter, the OpenFlow Switch391 processes subsequent packets belonging to the same flow as thereceived packet, based on the registered flow entry.

The switch 312 and controller 320 in the communication system accordingto the first example of the present invention include functionscorresponding to the above-described OpenFlow Switch 391 and OpenFlowController 390. That is, the functions of the OpenFlow Switch 391 areimplemented on the switch 312 in FIG. 12, and the functions of theOpenFlow Controller 390 are implemented on the controller 320 in FIG.12. The Flow Table 392 in the OpenFlow Switch 391 corresponds to astorage section (not shown) provided within the switch 312 of FIG. 12.Hereinafter, an architecture of a mobile system and operations thereinwill be described as an example of application of the present example inwhich OpenFlow is implemented.

3.3) Application Example

Referring to FIG. 15, a mobile system 400 includes a core system 401 andan access system 402, wherein the core system 401 includes U-plane P-GWs300, a controller (OFC) 320, a C-plane P-GW 330, a S-GW 340, and a MME370 as shown in FIG. 12. Note that processing for creation,modification, release, or the like of a GTP-U tunnel at the U-plane P-GW300 is performed by an OpenFlow configuration function (OFCP: OpenFlowConfiguration Point) in general. However, in the present example, it canbe performed by the OFC 320.

The access system 402 includes radio base stations, eNBs 360 a and 360b, wherein it is assumed here that communication terminals 403 a and 403b are connected to the radio base stations, respectively. The accesssystem 402 is a radio access network that provides the communicationterminals 403 with connectivity to the mobile system 400, for example,by using a radio access scheme of LTE. The communication terminals 403are mobile stations such as user terminal UE, mobile telephone, mobilecommunication terminal, and the like. The communication terminals 403can connect to an Internet 404, which is an external network, via themobile system 400.

3.3.1) Default Bearer Construction at P-GW

Referring to FIG. 16, when an attach procedure is started by the eNB360, MME 370, and S-GW 340 (Operation S300), the S-GW 340 sends a createsession request message to the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S301). TheC-plane P-GW 330, when receiving the create session request message,sends a U-plane resource (session) assignment request message to the OFC320 (Operation S302).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) assignmentrequest message, performs selection of a U-plane P-GW, assignment ofGTP-U tunnel identification information (TEID) for the selected P-GW,and, if necessary, assignment of a communication terminal's IP address(Operation S303), and returns a U-plane resource (session) assignmentresponse message to the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S304). The C-planeP-GW 330 having received the U-plane resource (session) assignmentresponse message sends a U-plane resource (session) setup requestmessage to the OFC 320 (Operation S305).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) setup requestmessage, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, which will bedescribed next, and sends it to the U-plane P-GW 300 (Operation S306)and further returns a U-plane resource (session) setup response messageto the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S307). The C-plane P-GW 330 havingreceived the U-plane resource (session) setup response message sends acreate session response message to the S-GW 340 (Operation S308), andthe above-described attach procedure is performed continuously.

The U-plane P-GW 300 registers flow modification information in thereceived FlowMod message with the switch 312 as a packet forward rule,whereby prescribed processing is performed on the packets of a targetflow. The FlowMod message has the format shown in FIG. 14 and, here, hasa structure as follows.

<FlowMod Structure>

With respect to an uplink packet,

Matching field:

The packet input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with a relevantGTP-U tunnel module 11;

(S-GW address and) S-GW TEID and P-GW TEID as metadata make exactmatches; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action :

Modify the destination MAC address to that of a corresponding node(e.g., a router or the like existing at a higher tier);

Modify the source MAC address to that of the P-GW 300; and

Forward to a port toward the Internet.

With respect to a downlink packet,

Matching field:

UE IP address exactly matches the destination IP address; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add (S-GW address and) S-GW TEID and P-GW TEID as metadata; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with a relevant GTP-U tunnelmodule 11.

3.3.2) Default Bearer Release at P-GW

Referring to FIG. 17, when a detach procedure is started by the eNB 360,MME 370, and S-GW 340 (Operation S401), the S-GW 340 sends a deletesession request message to the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S402). TheC-plane P-GW 330, when receiving the delete session request message,sends a U-plane resource (session) setup release request message to theOFC 320 (Operation S403).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) setup releaserequest message, generates a FlowMod message and sends it to the U-planeP-GW 300 (Operation S404) and further returns a U-plane resource(session) setup release response message to the C-plane P-GW 330(Operation S405). The C-plane P-GW 330 having received the U-planeresource (session) setup release response message sends a U-planeresource (session) assignment release request message to the OFC 320(Operation S406).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) assignmentrelease request message, releases the TEID of the U-plane P-GW and, ifnecessary, also releases the IP address of the communication terminal(Operation S407). Subsequently, the OFC 320 sends a U-plane resource(session) assignment release response message to the C-plane P-GW 330(Operation S408). The C-plane P-GW 330 sends a delete session responsemessage to the S-GW 340 (Operation S409), and the above-described detachprocedure is performed continuously.

The U-plane P-GW 300 releases a packet forward rule in accordance withflow modification information in the received FlowMod message. TheFlowMod in this case instructs to perform deletion, using the samematching rules that are used in the above-described bearer construction.

3.3.3) Dedicated Bearer Construction at P-GW

Referring to FIG. 18, the C-plane P-GW 330, when detecting a trigger fordedicated bearer construction (Operation S501), sends a U-plane resource(bearer) assignment request message to the OFC 320 (Operation S502).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) assignmentrequest message, assigns a TEID for a U-plane P-GW (Operation S503) andreturns a U-plane resource (bearer) assignment response message to theC-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S504). The C-plane P-GW 330 having receivedthe U-plane resource (bearer) assignment request message sends a createbearer request message to the S-GW 340 (Operation S505), and a dedicatedbearer activation procedure is performed by the eNB 360, MME 370, andS-GW 340 (Operation S506). Subsequently, the S-GW 340 sends a createbearer response message to the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S507), andthe C-plane P-GW 330, when receiving this, sends a U-plane resource(bearer) setup request message to the OFC 320 (Operation S508).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup requestmessage, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, which will bedescribed next, and sends it to the U-plane P-GW 300 (Operation S509)and further returns a U-plane resource (bearer) setup response messageto the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S510).

The U-plane P-GW 300 registers flow modification information in theFlowMod message with the switch 312 as a packet forward rule, and theswitch 312 performs prescribed processing on the packets of a targetflow in accordance with this rule. The FlowMod message has the formatshown in FIG. 14 and, here, has a structure as follows.

<FlowMod Structure>

With respect to an uplink packet,

Matching field:

The packet input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with a relevantGTP tunnel module 11;

(S-GW address and) S-GW TEID and P-GW TEID as metadata make exactmatches; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Forward to a port toward the Internet.

With respect to a downlink packet,

Matching field:

Exact matches occur in a field designated by TFT (Traffic FlowTemplate); and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add (S-GW address and) S-GW TEID and P-GW TEID as metadata; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with a relevant GTP tunnelmodule 11.

3.3.4) Dedicated Bearer release at P-GW

Referring to FIG. 19, the C-plane P-GW 330, when detecting a trigger fordedicated bearer release (Operation S601), sends a delete bearer requestmessage to the S-GW 340 (Operation S602), whereby the eNB 360, MME 370,and S-GW 340 performs a dedicated bearer deactivation procedure(Operation S603). Subsequently, the S-GW 340 sends a delete bearerresponse message to the C-plane P-GW 330 (Operation S604), and theC-plane P-GW 330, when receiving this, sends a U-plane resource (bearer)setup release request message to the OFC 320 (Operation S605).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup releaserequest message, generates a FlowMod message and sends it to the U-planeP-GW 300 (Operation S606) and further returns a U-plane resource(bearer) setup release response message to the C-plane P-GW 330(Operation S607). The C-plane P-GW 330 having received the U-planeresource (bearer) setup release response message sends a U-planeresource (bearer) assignment release request message to the OFC 320(Operation S608).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) assignmentrelease request message, releases the TEID of the U-plane P-GW(Operation S609). Subsequently, the OFC 320 sends a U-plane resource(bearer) assignment release response message to the C-plane P-GW 330(Operation S610).

The U-plane P-GW 300 releases a packet forward rule in accordance withflow modification information in the received FlowMod message. TheFlowMod in this case insructs to perform deletion, using the samematching rules that are used in the above-described bearer construction.

4. Second Example 4.1) System Architecture

Referring to FIG. 20, in a communication system according to a secondexample of the present invention, the communication apparatus 30 forC-plane and communication apparatus 10 for U-plane according to thefirst or second exemplary embodiment are applied to S-GWs for U-planeand for C-plane. In the present example, a GTP-U tunnel 550 isillustrated as the above-described logical path 50, and further aU-plane S-GW 500, a controller 520, a C-plane S-GW 530, and a radio basestation eNB 560 are illustrated as the communication apparatus 10 forU-plane, control apparatus 20, communication apparatus 30 for C-plane,and other-end communication apparatus 40, respectively. Moreover, theU-plane S-GW 500 is selected by a mobility management entity (MME) 570,and the eNB 560 and the U-plane S-GW 500 are connected through the GTP-Utunnel 550.

The U-plane S-GW 500 is provided with a plurality of GTP-U tunnelmodules 511 (GTP-U tunnel modules #1 and #2) correspondingly to the eNBand P-GW, respectively, and a switch 512, which correspond to theabove-described logical path modules 11 and packet forward section 12,respectively. The controller 520 has a function of identifying a packetflow, and registers a packet forward rule with the switch 512, therebycontrolling the switch 512 so that the switch 512 will add metadata to apacket that matches the packet forward rule and will forward the packetvia the GTP-U tunnel module 511, as described above. One of the GTP-Utunnel modules 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #1) in the U-plane S-GW 500 setsup a GTP-U tunnel 550 with the eNB 560, which is an other-endcommunication apparatus, and performs encapsulation/decapsulation,aliveness monitoring on the other-end communication apparatus using anecho message, and the like, as described above. The other GTP-U tunnelmodule 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #2) configures a GTP-U tunnel 550 withthe P-GW 540, which is an other-end communication apparatus, andperforms encapsulation/decapsulation, alive monitoring on the other-endcommunication apparatus using an echo message, and the like, asdescribed above. Note that metadata exchanged in the present example, inaddition to those used in the first example, additionally includes asequence number included in a GTP-U header. When a packet is received,the GTP-U tunnel modules 511 also include a sequence number in metadata.Moreover, the controller 520 instructs the switch 512 to transfer theabove-described sequence number as metadata to the output-target GTP-Utunnel module 511.

As described above, the switch 512 performs an action that matches apacket forward rule from the controller 520, thereby performing theabove-described addition of metadata and packet forwarding. Such anetwork architecture system of centralized control type in which thecontroller 520 controls the switch 512 in a centralized manner can beimplemented by using, for example, OpenFlow, I2RS (Interface to theRouting System), ForCES (Forwarding and Control Element Separation), orthe like. Hereinafter, an architecture of a mobile system and operationstherein to which OpenFlow is applied will be described as an example ofimplementation of the controller 520 and switch 512.

4.2) Application Example

Referring to FIG. 21, a mobile system 600 includes a core system 601 andan access system 602, wherein the core system 601 includes a U-planeS-GW 500, a controller (OFC) 520, a C-plane S-GW 530, a P-GW 540, and aMME 570 as shown in FIG. 20. Note that processing for creation,modification, release, or the like of a GTP-U tunnel at the U-plane S-GW500 is performed by an OpenFlow configuration function (OFCP: OpenFlowConfiguration Point) in general. However, in the present example, it canbe performed by the OFC 520.

The access system 502 includes radio base stations, eNBs 560 a and 560b, wherein it is assumed here that communication terminals 603 a and 603b are connected to the radio base stations, respectively. The accesssystem 602 is a radio access network that provides the communicationterminals 603 with connectivity to the mobile system 540, for example,by using a radio access scheme of LTE. The communication terminals 603are mobile stations such as user terminal UE, mobile telephone, mobilecommunication terminal, and the like. The communication terminals 603can connect to an Internet 604, which is an external network, via themobile system 600.

4.2.1) Default Bearer Construction at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 22, when an attach procedure is started by the eNB 560and MME 570 (Operation S700), the MME 570 sends a create session requestmessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S701). The C-plane S-GW 530,when receiving the create session request message, sends a U-planeresource (session) assignment request message to the OFC 520 (OperationS702).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) assignmentrequest message, performs selection of a U-plane S-GW and assignment ofGTP-U tunnel identification information (TEID) for the S-GW (OperationS703) and returns a U-plane resource (session) assignment responsemessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S704). The C-plane S-GW 530having received the U-plane resource (session) assignment responsemessage sends a create session request message to the P-GW 540(Operation S705) and, when receiving a create session response messagefrom the P-GW 540 (Operation S706), sends a create session responsemessage to the MME 570 (Operation S707).

The MME 570 having received the create session response messagecontinues to perform the above-described attach procedure, and sends amodify bearer request message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S708).When receiving this, the C-plane S-GW 530 sends a U-plane resource(bearer) setup request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S709).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup requestmessage, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, which will bedescribed next, and sends it to the U-plane S-GW 500 (Operation S710)and further sends a U-plane resource (bearer) setup response message tothe C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S711). The C-plane S-GW 530 havingreceived the U-plane resource (bearer) setup response message sends amodify bearer response message to the MME 370 (Operation S712).

The U-plane S-GW 500 registers flow modification information in thereceived FlowMod message with the switch 512 as a packet forward rule,whereby prescribed processing is performed on the packets of a targetflow. The FlowMod message has the format shown in FIG. 14 and, here, hasa structure as follows.

<FlowMod Structure>

With respect to a uplink packet,

Matching field:

The input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with the eNB-side GTPtunnel module 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #1);

(eNB address and) eNB TEID and S-GW TEID as metadata make exact matches;and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add (P-GW address and) P-GW TEID, S-GW TEID, and a bearer sequencenumber as metadata; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with the P-GW-side GTP tunnelmodule 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #2).

With respect to a downlink packet,

Matching field:

The input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with the P-GW-side GTPtunnel module 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #2);

(P-GW address and) P-GW TEID and S-GW TEID as metadata make exactmatches; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add (eNB address and) eNB TEID, S-GW TEID, and a bearer sequence numberas metadata; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with the eNB-side GTP tunnelmodule 511 (GTP-U tunnel module #1).

4.2.2) Default Bearer Release at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 23, a detach procedure is performed by the eNB 560 andMME 570 (Operation S801), and the MME 570 sends a delete session requestmessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S802). The C-plane S-GW 530,when receiving the delete session request message, sends a U-planeresource (session) setup release request message to the OFC 520(Operation S803).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) setup releaserequest message, generates a FlowMod message and sends it to the U-planeS-GW 500 (Operation S804) and further sends a U-plane resource (session)setup release response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S805).The C-plane S-GW 530 having received the U-plane resource (session)setup release response message sends a U-plane resource (session)assignment release request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S806).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) assignmentrelease request message, releases the TEID of the U-plane S-GW(Operation S807) and sends a U-plane resource (session) assignmentrelease response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S808). Whenreceiving this, the C-plane S-GW 530 sends a delete session requestmessage to the P-GW 540 (Operation S809) and, when receiving a deletesession response message as a response thereto (Operation S810), sends adelete session response message to the MME 570 (Operation S811).

The U-plane S-GW 500 releases a packet forward rule in accordance withflow modification information in the received FlowMod message. TheFlowMod in this case instructs perform deletion, using the same matchingrules that are used in the above-described bearer construction.

4.2.3) Dedicated Bearer Construction at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 24, the P-GW 540, when detecting a trigger fordedicated bearer construction (Operation S901), sends a U-plane resource(bearer) setup request message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S902).The C-plane S-GW 530 having received it sends a U-plane resource(session) assignment request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S903).

The OFC 320, when receiving the U-plane resource (session) assignmentrequest message, assigns a TEID for a U-plane S-GW (Operation S904) andreturns a U-plane resource (session) assignment response message to theC-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S905). The C-plane S-GW 530 having receivedthe U-plane resource (session) assignment response message sends acreate bearer request message to the MME 570 (Operation S906), and adedicated bearer activation procedure is performed by the eNB 560 andMME 570 (Operation S907). Subsequently, the MME 570 sends a createbearer response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S908), andthe C-plane S-GW 530, when receiving this, sends a U-plane resource(bearer) setup request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S909).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup requestmessage, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, which will bedescribed next, and sends it to the U-plane S-GW 500 (Operation S910)and further sends a U-plane resource (bearer) setup response message tothe C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S911). The C-plane S-GW 530, whenreceiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup response message, sends aU-plane resource (bearer) setup response message to the P-GW 540(Operation S912).

The U-plane S-GW 500 registers flow modification information in theFlowMod message with the switch 512 as a packet forward rule, and theswitch 512 performs prescribed processing on the packets of a targetflow in accordance with this rule. The FlowMod message has the formatshown in FIG. 14. The structure thereof is the same as in the case ofdefault bearer construction at S-GW described above, and therefore adescription thereof will be omitted.

4.2.4) Dedicated Bearer Release at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 25, the P-GW 540, when detecting a trigger fordedicated bearer release (Operation S1001), sends a delete bearerrequest message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1002). The C-planeS-GW 530 having received it sends a delete bearer request message to theMME 570 (Operation S1003), and a dedicated bearer deactivation procedureis performed by the eNB 560 and MME 570 (Operation S1004). Subsequently,the MME 570 sends a delete bearer response message to the C-plane S-GW530 (Operation S1005), and the C-plane S-GW 530, when receiving this,sends a U-plane resource (bearer) setup release request message to theOFC 520 (Operation S1006).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup releaserequest message, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, whichwill be described next, and sends it to the U-plane S-GW 500 (OperationS1007) and further sends a U-plane resource (bearer) setup releaseresponse message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1008). The C-planeS-GW 530, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) setup releaseresponse message, sends a U-plane resource (bearer) assignment releaserequest message to the OFC 520 (Operation S1009).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (bearer) assignmentrelease request message, releases the TEID of the U-plane S-GW(Operation S1010) and sends a U-plane resource (bearer) assignmentrelease response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1011). TheC-plane S-GW 530, when receiving this, sends a delete bearer responsemessage to the P-GW 540 (Operation S1012).

The U-plane S-GW 500 registers flow modification information in theFlowMod message with the switch 512 as a packet forward rule, and theswitch 512 performs prescribed processing on the packets of a targetflow in accordance with this rule. The FlowMod message has the formatshown in FIG. 14. The structure thereof is the same as in the case ofdefault bearer release at S-GW described above, and therefore adescription thereof will be omitted.

4.3) Release/Restoration of S1 Connection

Referring back to FIG. 21, a S1-U connection between the access system602 and the U-plane S-GW 500 sometimes falls in an idle state dependingon the state of a communication terminal and recovers from the idlestate due to the occurrence of data sent from a communication terminalor the arrival of data addressed to a communication terminal.Hereinafter, a description will be given of operations for S1 connectionrelease/restoration in the second example of the present invention.

4.3.1) S1 connection Release at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 26, when a S1 connection release procedure is startedby the eNB 560 and MME 570 (Operation S1101), the MME 570 sends arelease access bearers request message to the C-plane S-GW 530(Operation S1102). The C-plane P-GW 530, when receiving the releaseaccess bearers request message, sends a U-plane resource (S1-U) setuprelease request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S1103).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (S1-U) setup releaserequest message, generates a FlowMod message and sends it to the U-planeS-GW 500 (Operation S1104) and further sends a U-plane resource (S1-U)setup release response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (OperationS1105). The C-plane S-GW 530 having received the U-plane resource (S1-U)setup release response message sends a U-plane resource (S1-U)assignment release request message to the OFC 520 (Operation S1106).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (S1-U) assignmentrelease request message, sends a U-plane resource (S1-U) assignmentrelease response message to the C-plane P-GW 530 (Operation S1107). TheC-plane P-GW 530 sends a release access bearers response message to theMME 570 (Operation S1108), and the above-described S1 connection releaseprocedure is performed continuously.

The U-plane S-GW 500, in accordance with flow modification informationin the received FlowMod message, deletes an existing flow entry withrespect to the uplink. With respect to the downlink, Matching fieldremains the same as an existing flow entry, and Action indicates toforward to a port toward the OFC 520.

4.3.2) UE-Triggered S1 Connection Restoration at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 27, when a service request is made by a communicationterminal UE (Operation S1201), the MME 570 sends a modify bearer requestmessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S 1202). The C-plane S-GW530, when receiving the modify bearer request message, sends an U-planeresource (S1-U) assignment request message to the OFC 520 (OperationS1203).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (S1-U) assignmentrequest message, returns a U-plane resource (S1-U) assignment responsemessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1204). The C-plane S-GW 530having received the U-plane resource (S1-U) assignment response messagesends a U-plane resource (S1-U) setup request message to the OFC 520(Operation S1205).

The OFC 520, when receiving the U-plane resource (S1-U) setup requestmessage, generates a flow modification (FlowMod) message, which will bedescribed next, and sends it to the U-plane S-GW 500 (Operation S1206)and further sends a U-plane resource (S1-U) setup response message tothe C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1207). The C-plane S-GW 530 havingreceived the U-plane resource (S1-U) setup response message sends amodify bearer response message to the MME 370 (Operation S1208).

The U-plane S-GW 500 registers flow modification information in thereceived FlowMod message with the switch 512 as a packet forward rule,whereby prescribed processing is performed on the packets of a targetflow. The FlowMod message has the format shown in FIG. 14 and has thesame structure as in the case of default bearer construction at S-GWdescribed above, but as many flow entries are generated as the number ofthose hitherto generated or a number requested.

4.3.3) NW-Triggered S1 Connection Restoration at S-GW

Referring to FIG. 28, the P-GW 540, when receiving a data packet from anetwork (Operation S1301), sends this received data packet to theU-plane S-GW 500 (Operation S1302). The U-plane S-GW 500 having receivedthe new data packet, if any flow entry that matches header informationin this packet is not registered with the switch 512, notifies thispacket to the OFC 520 by using a Packet-In message (Operation S1303).The Packet-In message is the same as an ordinary Packet-In message,except that the input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with arelevant GTP tunnel module 511 and that (P-GW address and) P-GW TEID andS-GW TEID are included as metadata.

The OFC 520, when receiving the Packet-In message, buffers processing(Operation S1304) and sends a downlink packet receipt notificationmessage to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation 1305), and the C-plane S-GW530 having received this sends a downlink data notification message tothe MME 570 (Operation S1306). The MME 570 returns a downlink datanotification response message to the C-plane S-GW 530 (Operation S1307)and also sends a paging message to the eNB 560 (Operation S1308).

Triggered by paging, a S1-U connection is established through theabove-described UE-triggered service request operations (FIG. 27)(Operation S1309), and then the OSC 520 releases the buffering ofprocessing (Operation S1310) and sends a Packet-Out message to theU-plane S-GW 500 (Operation S1311). The Packet-Out message is the sameas an ordinary Packet-Out message, except that (eNB address and) eNBTEID and S-GW TEID are added as metadata and that Action in a flow entryis set such as to forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with arelevant GTP tunnel module 511.

The U-plane S-GW 500 forwards the data packet to the eNB 560 inaccordance with a packet forward rule that is set based on thePacket-Out message (Operation S1312).

5. Other Application Example

In the above-described examples, a GTP tunnel is illustrated as alogical path. However, it is also possible to employ a LTE tunnelsupporting PMIP (Proxy Mobile IP)/GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) orthe like. Moreover, at S-GW, it is also possible to use a methodsupporting BBERF (Bearer Biding and Event Reporting Function), in whichforwarding is performed after a mapping is released, not TEID-associatedpacket forwarding as described above.

6. Third Exemplary Embodiment

In the above-described second exemplary embodiment and examples, thecommunication apparatus for U-plane has a configuration in which alogical path module (GTP-U tunnel module) is provided to a logical portof the packet forward section (switch), as shown in FIG. 5. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, it is alsopossible to make a configuration such that a plurality of communicationapparatuses for U-plane as shown in FIG. 5 are deployed and connected toeach other by using switches that can control them, and one or some ofthe communication apparatuses for U-plane are selected depending on thenetwork load or the like. Hereinafter, an application to P-GW will bedescribed as a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Note that it is possible to apply the technologies mentioned in theabove-described first and second exemplary embodiments to the thirdexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 29, in a communication system according to the thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that aC-plane P-GW 1401 and a plurality of U-plane P-GWs 1402 are connected toswitches SW1 to SW3, and that a controller 1403 controls not only theU-plane P-GWs 1402 but also the switches SW1 to SW3 by using theOpenFlow technology. Here, a S-GW 1404 and the Internet 1405 areconnected to the switch SW1.

The controller 1403, considering the respective loads on the U-planeP-GWs 1402, can control the setup of a GTP-U tunnel (logical path)between which U-plane P-GW and the S-GW 1404, or which GTP-U tunnel isdeleted.

As described above, according to the third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the controller 1403 is interposed between the C-planeP-GW 1401 and the plurality of U-plane P-GWs 1402 via the switches SW1to SW3 that can be controlled by the controller 1403, whereby, inaddition to the effects of the first and second exemplary embodiments,it is possible to flexibly select a logical path route between the S-GW1404 and a U-plane P-GW 1402 and thus to further easilyincrease/decrease the U-plane processing function.

7. Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

It is possible to apply the techniques as mentioned in theabove-described first to third exemplary embodiments to a fourthexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a virtual S-GW is constructed byusing software such as Virtual Machine in a communication system. Thevirtual S-GW is constructed such as to include a plurality of U-planeS-GWs (S-GW (U-plane)), and a U-plane S-GW to be passed through isselected depending on a bearer.

In some existing communication systems, as shown in FIG. 30, a pluralityof P-GWs (P-GWs 720-1 and 720-2 in FIG. 30) may be deployedcorrespondingly to communication networks (data networks 720-1 and 720-2in FIG. 30). In a communication system with such an architecture, it isconceivable that if all bearers pass through a specific S-GW, the S-GWforms a bottleneck in communication. According to the fourth exemplaryembodiment, a U-plane S-GW is deployed for each of the plurality ofP-GWs corresponding to the communication networks. Accordingly, it ispossible to distribute respective communication corresponding to thecommunication networks among the plurality of U-plane S-GWs, whereby abottleneck in communication can be resolved.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the architecture of a communication systemaccording to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

A mobile system 700 includes an access system 702, which includes a basestation (eNB) 770 that performs wireless communication with acommunication terminal 703.

The mobile system 700 includes a core system 701. The core system 701includes the P-GWs 720-1 and 720-2 that correspond to the plurality ofdata networks 704-1 and 704-2, respectively. Note that it is alsopossible that a plurality of P-GWs are deployed for each of the datanetworks. For example, a plurality of P-GWs 720-1 may be deployed forthe data network 704-1. The core system 701 includes a virtual S-GW 740that is constructed by using software such as Virtual Machine. Thevirtual S-GW 740 includes a C-plane S-GW and a plurality of U-planeS-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 that correspond to the plurality of P-GWs 720-1and 720-2, respectively. For example, the virtual S-GW 740 isconstructed by activating software such as Virtual Machine on a serveror general communication equipment. The C-plane S-GW 730 may be anapparatus different from an apparatus on which the virtual S-GW 740 isconstructed. Moreover, it is also possible that the C-plane S-GW 730 isconstructed by using software such as Virtual Machine on the apparatuson which the virtual S-GW 740 is constructed.

For example, the U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 may have a configurationsimilar to that of the U-plane S-GW 500 illustrated in FIG. 20. Forexample, the U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 each can execute functionscorresponding to the GTP-U tunnel module 511 and switch 512 illustratedin FIG. 20 by using software applications operating on Virtual Machine.The functions corresponding to the GTP-U tunnel module 511 and switch512 are as described in the above-described second exemplary embodiment,and therefore a description thereof in the fourth exemplary embodimentwill be omitted. Moreover, the configurations of the U-plane S-GWs 740-1and 740-2 may be designed to modify information included in the outerheader, not to perform decapsulation processing and encapsulationprocessing in combination. Examples of the information to be modifiedhere include, but are not limited to, information for identifying alogical path included in the outer header, such as source anddestination IP addresses and a Tunneling Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

A control apparatus 710 controls the U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 and atransport network 760, for example, by using a control protocol such asOpenFlow, I2RS, or ForCES. The control apparatus 710 according to thefourth exemplary embodiment has functions similar to those of the OFC520 described in the second exemplary embodiment, and therefore adetailed description thereof will be omitted in the fourth exemplaryembodiment. However, the functions of the control apparatus 710 are notlimited to those of the OFC 520.

The control apparatus 710 selects a U-plane S-GW 740 for a communicationto pass through, depending on the data network 704 which thecommunication terminal 703 communicates with. Moreover, the controlapparatus 710 assigns identification information to a bearer that passesthrough the selected U-plane S-GW 740.

Referring to FIG. 31, the transport network 760 includes a plurality ofswitches 7601. For example, each switch 7601 has functions similar tothose of the OpenFlow switch 391 shown in FIG. 13.

The control apparatus 710 controls the transport network 760 andconstructs the communication routes of bearers (GTP-U tunnels) forcommunication with the data networks 704-1 and 704-2, between the eNB770 and the virtual S-GW 740. An IP address is assigned to the virtualS-GW 740, and the eNB 770 sends respective communication trafficscorresponding to the data networks 704-1 and 704-2 to the IP address ofthe virtual S-GW 740. Note that the eNB 770 encapsulates the respectivecommunication traffics corresponding to the data networks 704-1 and704-2 with bearer identification information (a TEID) also included. Forexample, identification information assigned to a bearer forwarded fromthe eNB 770 to the U-plane S-GW 740-1 (hereinafter, referred to as TEID(A)) is different from identification information assigned to a bearerforwarded from the eNB 770 to the U-plane S-GW 740-2 (hereinafter,referred to as TEID (B)). Accordingly, the bearers can be discriminatedfrom each other based on the identification information. Note thatidentification information assigned to a bearer forwarded from theU-plane S-GW 740-1 to the eNB 770 is assumed to be TEID (C), andidentification information assigned to a bearer forwarded from theU-plane S-GW 740-2 to the eNB 770 is assumed to be TEID (D).

In the example of FIG. 31, for example, the control apparatus 710decides on the switches (A) and (B) as switches 7601 that a bearer sentfrom the eNB 770 to the U-plane S-GW 740-1 will pass through. Thecontrol apparatus 710 instructs the switch (A) to forward to the switch(B) a packet that has the IP address of the virtual S-GW 740 as itsdestination address and has TEID (A) as bearer identificationinformation. Moreover, the control apparatus 710 instructs the switch(B) to forward to the U-plane S-GW 740-1 a packet that has the IPaddress of the virtual S-GW 740 as its destination address and has TEID(A) as bearer identification information.

In the example of FIG. 31, for example, the control apparatus 710decides on the switches (A) and (C) as switches 7601 that a bearer sentfrom the eNB 770 to the U-plane S-GW 740-2 will pass through. Thecontrol apparatus 710 instructs the switch (A) to forward to the switch(C) a packet that has the IP address of the virtual S-GW 740 as itsdestination address and has TEID (B) as bearer identificationinformation. Moreover, the control apparatus 710 indicates to the switch(C) to forward to the U-plane S-GW 740-2 a packet that has the IPaddress of the virtual S-GW 740 as its destination address and has TEID(B) as bearer identification information.

In the example of FIG. 31, for example, the control apparatus 710decides on the switches (B) and (A) as switches 7601 that a bearer sentfrom the U-plane S-GW 740-1 to the eNB 770 will pass through. Thecontrol apparatus 710 instructs the switch (B) to forward to the switch(A) a packet that has the IP address of the eNB 770 as its destinationaddress and has TEID (C) as bearer identification information. Moreover,the control apparatus 710 indicates to the switch (A) to forward to theeNB 770 a packet that has the IP address of the eNB 770 as itsdestination address and has TEID (C) as bearer identificationinformation.

In the example of FIG. 31, for example, the control apparatus 710decides on the switches (C) and (A) as switches 7601 that a bearer sentfrom the U-plane S-GW 740-2 to the eNB 770 will pass through. Thecontrol apparatus 710 instructs the switch (C) to forward to the switch(A) a packet that has the IP address of the eNB 770 as its destinationaddress and has TEID (D) as bearer identification information. Moreover,the control apparatus 710 indicates to the switch (A) to forward to theeNB 770 a packet that has the IP address of the eNB 770 as itsdestination address and has TEID (D) as bearer identificationinformation.

The control apparatus 710 controls each of the U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and740-2. FIG. 32 shows an example of the configuration of the U-planeS-GW. The U-plane S-GW 740 includes GTP-U tunnel modules 741 and aswitch 742. Each GTP-U tunnel module 741 is connected to a logical portP_(L) of the switch. The control apparatus 710 controls the switch 742.For example, the GTP-U tunnel modules 741 are deployed on the eNB 770side and on the P-GW 720 side, respectively. Note that a GTP-U tunnelmodule 741 that is common to the eNB 770 and P-GW 720 sides may bedeployed. In this case, the common GTP-U tunnel module 741 is connectedto each of a logical port P_(L) corresponding to the eNB 770 side and alogical port P_(L) corresponding to the P-GW 720 side.

Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the control apparatus710 controls the U-plane S-GW in accordance with the OpenFlow protocol.However, the present invention is not limited to the OpenFlow protocol.

The control apparatus 710 sets a flow entry in the switch 742 inaccordance with the OpenFlow protocol.

The control apparatus 710 sets a flow entry with the following contentswith respect to uplink packets (packets sent in the direction from eNBto U-plane S-GW). Matching field:

The input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with the GTP tunnelmodule 741 on the eNB 770 side;

Metadata (a TEID for communication with eNB) included in a packetexactly matches the identification information of a bearer configuredbetween the eNB 770 and the U-plane S-GW; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add metadata (a TEID for communication with P-GW and a sequence numberincluded in the metadata at the time of receiving the packet) to thepacket; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with the GTP tunnel module742 on the P-GW 720 side.

The control apparatus 710 sets a flow entry with the following contentswith respect to downlink packets (packets to be sent in the directionfrom U-plane S-GW to eNB).

Matching field:

The input port is a logical port P_(L) associated with the GTP tunnelmodule 741 on the P-GW side;

Metadata (a TEID for communication with P-GW) included in a packetexactly matches the identification information of a bearer configuredbetween the P-GW 720 and the U-plane S-GW; and

The rest are all wildcards.

Action:

Add metadata (a TEID for communication with eNB and a sequence numberincluded in the metadata at the time of receiving the packet) asmetadata; and

Forward to a logical port P_(L) associated with the GTP tunnel module741 on the eNB 770 side.

FIG. 33 shows an example of operations in the fourth exemplaryembodiment. Note that a detailed description will be given below ofoperations that are different from the example of operations describedwith reference to FIG. 22, omitting a description of similar operations.

In Operation S803, the control apparatus 710 selects a U-plane S-GW 740for a communication to pass through, depending on a data network 704which the communication terminal 703 communicates with. Moreover, thecontrol apparatus 710 assigns identification information to a bearerthat passes through the selected U-plane S-GW 740.

In Operations S810 and S811, the control apparatus 710 controls thetransport network 760 and U-plane S-GW 740, through the operationsdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32.

FIG. 34 shows another example of the system architecture according tothe fourth exemplary embodiment.

In the example of the system architecture of FIG. 30, the virtuallyconstructed U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 are deployed in the coresystem 701. In contrast, in the example of the system architecture ofFIG. 34, part (e.g., the U-plane S-GW 740-2 in FIG. 34) of virtuallyconstructed U-plane S-GWs is deployed in a base station. Note that theC-plane S-GW 730, U-plane S-GW 740-1, and U-plane S-GW 740-2 constitutethe virtual S-GW 740, and IP addresses are not assigned to the U-planeS-GWs 740-1 and 740-2, respectively, but an IP address (hereinafter, IPaddress (A)) is assigned to the virtual S-GW 740, as in the example ofFIG. 30.

An extended eNB 771 includes an eNB 7710, which has functions similar tothose of the eNB 770 in FIG. 30, the U-plane S-GW 740-2, and an IPsecfunction 7712. The U-plane S-GW 740-2 has a configuration similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 32.

With the system architecture shown in FIG. 34, it is possible to deploya core system in which no S-GW is included and only a P-GW for accessinga data network is deployed, at a location near the access system 702.Accordingly, the effect can be obtained that it becomes easy to offloadtraffic from the access system.

Hereinafter, the system architecture will be described with reference toFIG. 34. Note that in the description regarding FIG. 34, a descriptionof components similar to those of FIG. 30 will be omitted.

The control apparatus 710 controls the U-plane S-GWs 740-1 and 740-2 andconstructs bearers (GTP-U tunnels).

The control apparatus 710 indicates to the U-plane S-GW 740-2 to switchprocessing depending on a bearer. Note that in the example of FIG. 34,it is assumed that a bearer of identification information “TEID (X)”accesses the data network 704-2 via the P-GW 720-2 in a core system701-2.

The control apparatus 710 indicates to the U-plane S-GW 740-2 to, if apacket has IP address (A) as its destination IP address and TEID (X),change the source IP address of the packet to IP address (A) and thedestination IP address thereof to the IP address of the P-GW 720-2. Inother words, the control apparatus 710 indicates to the U-plane S-GW740-2 to change the destination address of a packet that belongs to alogical path associated with a communication with a predetermined datanetwork (the data network 704-2 in FIG. 34), to the address of a P-GW(the P-GW 720-2 in FIG. 34) corresponding to the predetermined datanetwork. The U-plane S-GW 740-2 has a function of changing thedestination address of a packet that belongs to a logical pathassociated with a communication with a predetermined network to theaddress of a P-GW corresponding to the predetermined data network inaccordance with a command from the control apparatus 710.

Moreover, the control apparatus 710 indicates to the U-plane S-GW 740-2to change the TEID to a TEID for communication with the P-GW 720-2. TheU-plane S-GW 740-2 forwards the packet to the IPsec function 7712, andthis packet is encrypted by the IPsec function 7712. The IPsec function7712 determines which of IPsec GWs 780-1 and 780-2 the packet isforwarded to, based on the destination IP address of the packet. Sincethe destination IP address of the encrypted packet has been changed tothe address of the P-GW 720-2, the IP sec function 7712 forwards thepacket to the IPsec GW 780-2.

The IPsec GW 780-2 decrypts the received packet and forwards the packetto the P-GW 720-2.

The control apparatus 710 indicates to the U-plane S-GW 740-2, as adefault operation (e.g., an operation on packets other than those havingIP address (A) as the destination IP address and TEID (X)), to forward apacket with its contents as they are, without changing the address ofthe packet. The U-plane S-GW 740-2 forwards a packet to the IPsecfunction 7712. The IPsec function 7712 encrypts the packet. The IPsecfunction 7712 determines which of the IPsec GWs 780-1 and 780-2 thepacket is forwarded to, based on the destination IP address of thepacket. If the destination IP address is IP address (A), which is theaddress of the virtual S-GW 740, the IPsec function 7712 forwards thepacket to the IPsec GW 780-1.

The IPsec GW 780-1 decrypts the received packet and forwards the packetto the P-GW 720-1.

With the above-described operations, it is possible to deploy a coresystem in which no S-GW is included and only a P-GW for accessing a datanetwork is deployed, at a location near the access system 702.Accordingly, the effect can be obtained that it becomes easy to offloadtraffic from the access system.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to communication systems in which alogical path such as an EPS bearer is created to send and receivepackets.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 Communication apparatus for U-plane-   11 Logical path module-   12 Packet forward section-   13 Data processing section-   20 Control apparatus-   30 Communication apparatus for C-plane-   40 Other-end communication apparatus-   50 Logical path-   101 Logical path management section-   102 Encapsulation function section-   103 Decapsulation function section-   201, 202 Communication section-   203 Route and action calculation section-   204 Packet forward management section-   205 Packet forward rule management section-   206 Control section-   300 U-plane P-GW (PDN Gateway for User plane)-   311 GTP-U tunnel module-   312 Switch (OFS: OpenFlow Switch)-   320 Controller (OFC: Openflow Controller)-   330 C-plane P-GW (PDN Gateway for Control plane)-   340 S-GW (Serving Gateway)-   350 GTP-U tunnel-   360 Radio base station eNB-   370 MME-   500 U-plane S-GW-   511 GTP-U tunnel module-   512 Switch (OFS: OpenFlow Switch)-   520 Controller (OFC: Openflow Controller)-   530 C-plane S-GW-   540 P-GW-   550 GTP-U tunnel-   560 Radio base station eNB-   570 MME

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system in which a logical path isconfigured in a network to perform communication, characterized bycomprising: a second gateway, which is deployed for each of at least onefirst gateway; a transport network, through which the logical path isset up between a base station and the second gateway; and a controlapparatus that controls packet forwarding in the transport network,wherein the control apparatus controls the transport network so that alogical path to which a packet belongs is identified and the packet willbe forwarded to the second gateway corresponding to the identifiedlogical path. 2-11. (canceled)
 12. A serving gateway in a communicationsystem including a plurality of PDN (Packet Data Network) gateways,comprising: a first unit that is configured to terminate a first logicalpath with a PDN gateway associated with the serving gateway; a secondunit that is configured to terminate a second logical path with a basestation; and a third unit that is configured to exchange informationrelated to the termination processing with at least one of the first andsecond units in accordance with an operation rule, which is notifiedfrom a control apparatus in response to a request from a control planefor the first and second logical paths.
 13. The serving gatewayaccording to claim 12, wherein the third unit exchanges the informationrelated to the termination processing via a communication interface forpacket transfer.
 14. The serving gateway according to claim 12, whereinthe third unit exchanges the information related to the terminationprocessing, along with packet transfer via a communication interface forpacket transfer.
 15. The serving gateway according to claim 12, whereinthe third unit exchanges the information related to the terminationprocessing as packet metadata with at least one of the first and secondunits.
 16. The serving gateway according to claim 12, wherein the thirdunit iexchanges a sequence number in at least one of the first andsecond logical paths as packet metadata with at least one of the firstand second units.
 17. The serving gateway according to claim 12, whereinthe third unit identifies a packet, based on the information related tothe termination processing that is for identifying the logical path, andexchanges information related to a logical path to which the identifiedpacket belongs with at least one of the first and second units.
 18. Theserving gateway according to claim 12, wherein the first and secondunits are capable of encapsulating a packet by using the informationrelated to the termination processing that is received from the thirdunit.
 19. The serving gateway according to claim 12, wherein the firstand second units are capable of sending to the third unit a decapsulatedpacket and information related to the logical path to which this packetbelongs.
 20. The serving gateway according to claim 12, wherein theserving gateway executes the first, second and third units by usingsoftware operating on virtual machine.
 21. A communication method for aserving gateway in a communication system including a plurality of PDN(Packet Data Network) gateways, comprising: by a first logical pathtermination module, terminating a first logical path with a PDN gatewayassociated with the serving gateway; by a second logical pathtermination module, terminating a second logical path with a basestation; and exchanging information related to the terminationprocessing with at least one of the first and second logical pathtermination modules in accordance with an operation rule, which isnotified from a control apparatus in response to a request from acontrol plane for the first and second logical paths. 22-28. (canceled)29. A base station in a communication system including a plurality ofPDN (Packet Data Network) gateways, comprising: a base station unit; anda serving gateway unit, wherein the serving gateway unit includes: aunit that is configured to translate a destination address of a packetbelonging to a logical path for a communication with a predeterminedcommunication network, to an address of a PDN gateway that correspondsto the predetermined communication network.
 30. The base stationaccording to claim 29, wherein the unit translates the destinationaddress of a packet belonging to a logical path for a communication witha predetermined communication network to the address of a PDN gatewaythat corresponds to the predetermined communication network, inaccordance with an operation rule, which is notified from a controlapparatus in response to a request from a control plane for the logicalpath.
 31. The base station according to claim 29, further comprising: asecurity unit that is configured to sends a packet addressed to the PDNgateway that corresponds to the predetermined communication network, toa security gateway that corresponds to this PDN gateway.
 32. Acommunication system including a plurality of PDN (Packet Data Network)gateways, comprising: a base station that includes a base station unitand a serving gateway unit, wherein the serving gateway unit includes: aunit that is configured to translate a destination address of a packetbelonging to a logical path for a communication with a predeterminedcommunication network, to an address of a PDN gateway that correspondsto the predetermined communication network.
 33. The communication systemaccording to claim 32, wherein the unit translates the destinationaddress of a packet belonging to a logical path for a communication witha predetermined communication network to the address of a PDN gatewaythat corresponds to the predetermined communication network, inaccordance with an operation rule, which is notified from a controlapparatus in response to a request from a control plane for the logicalpath.
 34. The communication system according to claim 32, furthercomprising: a security unit that is configured to send a packetaddressed to the PDN gateway that corresponds to the predeterminedcommunication network, to a security gateway that corresponds to thisPDN gateway.